Control means for switch machines



Dec. 31, 1929. w. w. WENHOLZ CONTROL MEANS FOR SWITCH MACHINES FiledAug. 4, 1927 lwmo B Y M 4 ,ATTORNEY patented Dec. 31 1929 uuiraosiraresrea'r WALTER W. WENHOLZ, OLE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'lO GENERALRAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK CONIBDL MEANS FOR SWITCHMACHINES Application filed. August 4:, 1927. Serial No; 210,561.

This invention relates to control apparatus, and more particularly tomeans for controlling a power operated switch machine on a railwaysystem from a distant tower or ofhce.

In controlling railway traflic controlling apparatus, and this isespecially true of a power operated switch machine, it is highlyimportant that the apparatus should be suchas not to be operableaccidentally. In pro- Viding means for controlling a switch machinethere are three important requisites to be taken into consideration,namely, (1st) a switch machine should not be started unless it is safeto operate the same at the time, (2nd) if the operation of such switchma chine is once initiated such operation should be permitted tocontinueuntil the machine has completed its operating stroke irrespec- 20, tiveof traflic conditions ahead; and, (3rd) the device for controlling thesame, which of necessity must have stick or maintaining operatingcharacteristics, should be of such construction that after once operatedto a certain position it cannotjbe accidentally displaced from suchposition. I

In view of the foregoing and other important considerations, it isproposed in accordance with the present invention to provideelectrically controlled circuit controlling mechanism which ismechanically con- 1 structed to have a tendencyto remain in its lastoperated position, and which is electrically constructed so that ifslightly displaced from such last operated position it will beelectrically returned to such position. A further object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of energy saving means whichautomatically cuts oif the electric current when the circuit controllingmechanism has assumed the operated posi-' tion.

Other objects purposes and characteristic features of the invention are1n part f jpointed out in the specification hereinafter,

and are inpart apparent from the accompanying drawings.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to theaccompanying single figure of the drawings in which an embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated in the form of a control means andassociated circuits for controlling a distant motor operated switchmachine.

Structure.Referring to the drawings, a railway track having rails 3 andlhas been shown, from which diverges a siding having rails 5 and 6,including a track switch 18. The position of the railway track andsiding shown is a part of a railway train dispatclr ing system, such asdisclosed in the prior application of S. N. right, Ser. No. 120,428,filed J uly 3, 1926, and in which sufficient signals are provided at theend of each passing siding for controlling the entrance and departure oftrafiic into and out of the main track and sidingv of such passingsiding, respectively. It is to be understood, however, that theinvention may be applied to any switch machine controlled from a distantpoint. In the particular arrangement shown these signals have beenconventionally illustrated as comprising semaphore signals, of which thesignals2and2D are startingsignals, the signal 1 is the main trackentering signal and the signal 1D is a take-siding signal. The portionof the track adjacent these signals is electrically segregated from therest of the track by insulating joints 7, to form the usual detectortrack circuit, which includes the detector track relay DR conventionallyillustrated by a dotted line and which includes the track battery B. Thesignals 1, 1D, 2 and 21) are in practice controlled by the control relayZ, and in accordance with tratfic conditions ahead, in any suitablemanner, forinstance, as described in detail in the application abovereferred to.

This control relay Z is controlled through the medium of theline wire 10from a distant train dispatchers oflice or tower DT in an; suitablemanner. In the particular arrangement shown the control relay Z is adirect current polar-neutral relay which may be energized positivelyfrom the battery 11 when the lever L is moved in a clock-wise directionand may be energized into the reversed position trolled by a motoroperated switch machine SM, including a motor preferably of the directcurrent series type having an armature A and a field winding F, althougha direct or alternating current motor of any suitable construction maybe used. This switch machine SM is of a construction so that if one ofits control wires either the normal or the reverse wire is energized themotor will operate the switch points to that position, and when suchoperation is completed it will again open this operating circuit. Thisswitch machine SM is preferably controlled by a circuit controller C0 ofthe mechanical stick type, in which the movable parts tend to remain inthe position to which they have been last operated. This controller COincludes oppositely disposed electromagnets having coils 15 and 16,disposed on yokes 17 and. 18, respectively. These electrovmagnetsareadapted to act on an armature (not specifically. shown) which in turnoperates the contacts 20 and 21 toward the energized; electromagnet orsolenoid. It is believed that the novel features of the invention arebest understood byv considering the operations of theswitch machine fromthe normal extremeposition to the reverse position and back to itsnormal position.

Opcmti07a/.Let us first assume that the train dispatcher wishes to cleara certain signal, andin order to do so moves the lever L in a clock-wisedirection so as to connect the lever contact to the positive side of thebattery 11. This willcause the control relay Z to pick upv its neutralcontact 24, the polar contact 22 remainingin the right hand position,

in which it is illustrated. By soenergizing.

the control, relay Z one or the other of the maintrack.v signal 1 or2are permitted to assume the clear, position through suitablecontrolcircuits and mechanism,.which for convenience havebeen omitted from thedrawings. The lifting; of the neutral contact 24; will complete-thefollowing circuit, in which nocurrent will flow because the coils 15 areshuntedout since both ends of this circuit are connected to the samepole of. a source of energy, such as a. battery :beg inning at theterminal B of such source, polar contact 22, wire 23, neutralcontact24ofthe control relay Z, wire 25, front contact 26 ofthe detector trackrelay DB, wire 27, contact 28 of the approach locking relay LR, wire 29,contacts 302031, wire 33, coils 15, back to the same terminal B.

The completion, of, the circuit just traced will have no materialefi'ect since there is no The energ zation.

source of current therein. of the relay Z will, howeven,inpracticepermit clearing of-a signal as, more clearly described in the priorapplication, above men.- tioned, from which it, appears that the opera;tor cilnclear signals con$istent withtheposition the SwitchllltlChlllBzlS assuming,- without operating such switch machine.

Let us now assume that the operator or dis patcher wishes to operate theswitch machine 6M to the reverse position, so as to permit a train toenter or leave the siding including track rails 5 and 6. The operatorwill move the level: L in the counterclock-wise direction, therebyconnecting the lever contact to the negative terminal of the battery 11,which in turn will cause the control relay Z to be energized to thereverse dotted position. \Vith the relay Z energized to the reverseposition the following circuit for operating the controller CO iscompleted :-beginning at the terminal B, polar contact of the controlrelay Z in the left hand dotted position, wire 23, neutral contact 2ofthe same-relay, wire 25, contact 26, wire 27, contact 28,, wire 29,contacts 3,0.2031, wire 33, coils 15, to the terminal; 13+ of thesamebattery. It is noted that this circuit is the same as the onepreviously traced except it includes the battery. lVih this circuitcompleted the electromagnet 151'('; will operate the contacts 20 21 to,their dotted position, which operation will open the circuit usttracedand complete another circuit which does not include any source ofcurrent, and therefore need not be considered at this time. Operation ofthe controller GO; to. the dotted position completes the followingenergizing circuit for the motor of the switch machine SM= beginning atthe terminal B of a suitable battery, the wires 36 and 3'7,contacts38-21 of the con trollcr CO, reverse wire R, contacts 4O l1 ofthe switch machine SM, wires 42 and 43, armature A, wire 44, cont-acts45 @6, wire 47, field winding F, to the common return wire C connectedto the other terminal of said battery. The completion of this circuitwill cause the switch machine SM to operate the track switch 18 to thetake-siding position,'and after this operating cyclehas been completedthe circuit just traced is opened at the contacts 40-41 and 454(3. It isthus seen that the energy is cut off of the controller CO when itsoperating stroke is completed, andin the same way electrical energy iscut off of the switch machine SM when it has completed'its stroke. Letus now see how an electric circuit is completed when the contacts 2021are accidentally moved slightly. away from their dotted position towhich they were just operated. If this occurs, the fol l-owing circuit.is completed, which, operates the contacts 2021 to .the same extremedotted position :beginning at the terminal B lcoils 15 of theelectro-magnet 15-17,, wire 33, contacts 31.2032, wire 50, coils 16 of.the electroanagnet, 1618, totheother terminal B. ofsu'ch battery.Althoughthe completion of this circuit energized bothof the two opposingelectro-magnets, the contacts will be attractedto the last operatedposition, because they are nearer that electro-magnet.

and itstractive force predominates. It will benoted thatthe circuit justtraced is again opened as scenes the armature and contacts 2021 havebeen operated to the extreme position. In this connection it willfurther be noted that the circuit last traced is always available forreturning the contacts 20 21 t the extreme position to which they werelast operated, even though the control circuit including relaycontacts24, 26 and 28 is open; or in other words, this circuit, convenientlycalled a retaining circuit, is always available for maintaining theoperating contacts of the controller CO in the last operated position.Also, if the contact 20is accidentallymovcd to a position to contactwith both stationary contacts 31 and 32 when the contacts 2 lof relay Zas well as contacts 26 and 28 are closed, the controller CO is operatedto the correct position, because the coil for operating it to the otherposition is shunted out by the partial circuit including contacts 24,26, and 28. If the operator now'wishes to return the switch machine SMback to the normal straight-track position, he will operate his controllever L in a clock-wise direction to connect the line wire to thepositive side of battery 11, and will thereby energize the control relayZ to the normal position and complete the circuit for the control relayZ first traced, except that it will include the battery and the coils1.6 instead of the coils 15, and the completion of this circuit willreturn the contacts 21 to the position in which they have beenillustrated. WVith the controller CO returned to the normal position andwith the switch machine SM in the rea verse position the followingcircuit for opi to the normal straight-track position. VlGW of theoperation ust considered it readerating the switch machine to the normalposition is completed :-beginning at the terminal B, wires 86 and 52,,contacts 5821,

normal wire N, contacts 4154l, wires and.

n, armature A or the switch machine motor, wire 43 contacts 5646, wire57, field winding F, to the common return wire C connected to the otherside of said battery.

It will be noted that the current flow in the armature A ofthe switchmachine in the normal circuit, just traced, is in the reverse directionfrom that of the current flow in this armature in the reverse circuit,heretofore traced; so that the motor is operated in the reversedirection and thereby operates the switch points in the oppositedirection bail:

This is extremely important, because itis.

considered better to complete the operating stroke of the switch pointsafter once started than to leave the points in an intermediate position,in the event there is an approaching train coming within the zone whichcontrols the lock relay LR. This zone in practice extends brakingdistance from the switch points, or at least extends over a distance sothat as a train enters such zone there will be sufficient time for theswitch machine to complete its cycle even though such cycle has ust beeninitiated. In this connection it is desired to point out that the lockrelay LR is preferably controlled in the same way as is the relay GR inthe above mentioned prior application, that is, the lock relay LR canonly be energized when there is no train approaching the track switch155 within a limited distance, or in the event there is a trainapproaching this must have accepted a caution signal and is preparing tostop before it reaches the track switch in question before conditionsare proper for the lock relay LR to pick up. It should also be noted,that if the contacts 20-21 of the controller C0 are accidentally shiftedfrom their extreme position due to any cause, such as vibration due to apassing train, these contacts will be returned to such extreme positionas soon as the contact 20 is shifted far enough to engage the contacts31 and 32.

Having thus shown only one embodiment of the present invention andhaving shown a rather specific circuit arrangement connecting thevarious devices shown conventionally, it is desired to be understoodthat this has been done for the purpose of disclosing the nature of theinvention and the manner in which it may be applied to a specificproblem, and that this showing has not been made to illustrate the scopeof the invention or the exact construction preferably employed inpracticing the same; and it is further desired to be understood thatvarious changes, modifications and additions maybe made to adapt theinvention to the particular problems encountered in practicing the same,allwithout departing from the scope or the invention of the idea ofmeans underlying the same except as demanded by the scope of thefollowing claims.

W hat I claim is 1. In combination, a railway track having a trackswitch associated therewith, a power operated switch machine foroperatingsaid track switch, a controller controlled by an operatingcircuit and for controlling the flow of current to said switch machineto operate the same, said controller including devices for cutting theoperating current off of such controller when said controller has beenoperated to the last controlled position and for reapplying current toreturn such controller to such position if it has due to some othercause been moved from such position.

2. In combination, a railway track having a moved from such position dueto foreign causes, said last mentioned means functioning even thoughsaid control circuit has been opened in the mean time.

3. In combination, a railway track having a track switchassociatedtherewith, a power operated switch machine for operating saidtrack switch, a controller for controlling said switch machine includingtwo oppositely disposed electro-magnets adapted when alternatelyenergized tomove control contacts in opposite directionin two extremepositions, and means for closing a circuit which energizes both of saidsolenoids when said contacts dueto foreign causes are moved from theirlast operated position, whereby said contacts are moved tothe nearestextreme position.

4:. In combination, a switch machine of the lnotor operated type, acircuit for said switch machine which it closed operates said switchmachine from one extreme position to the other, a controller forcontrolling said circuit and switch machine, a circuit for saidcontroller which it closed operates said controller to close said switchmachine circuit and then open said last mentioned controller circuit,and means for closing said last mentionedcircuit.-

5.- In combination, a switch machine of the motor operated type, anormal and a reverse circuit for said switch machine, a controller forclosing one or the otherof said normal or reverse circuits at one point,circuit controlling means for opening the closed circuit when the switchmachine has been operated to the controlled position, a normal and areverse circuit for the controller, switch means for closing one or theother of the normal and reverse circuits of said controller, and meansfor opening the last closed circuit of said controller when thecontroller has been operated to the last controlled position.

6. In combination, a switch machine of the motor operated type, a normaland a reverse circuit for said switch machine, a controller for closingone or the other of said normal or reverse circuits at one point,circuit controlling means for opening the closed circuit when the switchmachine has been operated to the controlled position, a normal and areverse circuit for saidcontroller, switch means for closing one or theother of thenormal and reverse circuits of said controller, and meansfor opening the last closed circuit of said controller when thecontroller has been said last mentioned means being of such constructionthat accidental displacement of the contacts of said controller willcomplete a circuit to return it to the last operated postion even thoughboth the normal and the reverse circuit of said controller are open. 7.A controller comprising, two oppositely disposed electro-magnets adaptedto magnetically act to move an armature in opposite directions ifalternately energized, contacts and circuit wires for connecting thecoils of said electro-magnet in series in a circuit with a source ofcurrent when said armature assumes any except either extreme position,and means for shunting the coils of either of said electromagnets out ofsaid circuit.

I 8. A controller comprising, two oppositely disposed elect-ro-magnetsadapted to magnetically act to move an armature in opposite directionsif alternately energized, station-' ary contacts, a movable contact forconnecting the coils of said electro-magnets in series through saidstationary contacts, and means including a wire connected to astationary contact for shunting the'coils of either of saidelectro-magnets.

9. Means for controlling a distant switch machine comprising, acontroller having oppositely disposed coils for operating contacts inopposite directions when alternately energized, a circuit for connectingsaid coils in serieswith a source of electric current, a polar relaylocated near said switch machine which if in one energized positionshunts one of said coils and when in the other energized position shuntsthe other of said coils, and a control circuit connecting a local towerand said polar relay for controlling the said polar relay.

10. Means for controlling a distant switch comprising, a switch machinehaving a normal and a reverse position, a controller for completing saidnormal or said reverse circuit, means for opening the completed circuitof said switch machine when it has completed its operating stroke, anormal and a reverse circuit for said controller, means for closing thenormal or the reverse circuit of said controller, and means for openingthe completed circuit of said controller when said controller has beenoperated to the position to which the completed circuit tends to operateit.

11. A circuit controller for operating switch machines comprising, twoelectro-magnets for operating circuit controlling means in oppositedirections upon alternate energization of said electro-magnets, circuitselecting means for connecting one or the other of said electro-magnetsto a line wire, and means for controlling the energization of theconnected electro-magnet through the medium of said line wire.

12. A circuit controller for operating switch machines comprising, twoelectromagnets for operating circuit controlling means in oppositedirections upon alternate energization of said electro-magnets, a sourceof current having one terminal connected to one of said electro-magnetsand having the other termlnal connected to the other of saldelectro-inagnets, a line Wire, circuit selecting,

means operated by said electro-magnets for connecting the free termlnalof the electromagnet which is capable of operating said circuitcontrolling means from the then operated extreme position to said lineWire, and means for connecting said line Wire to either of the terminalsof said source of current, whereby said circuit controller is op'eh atedin response to the application 01": potential of one or the otherpolarity to said line Wire and the current flow is discontinued when thecircuit controller has been operated in response to the application ofsuch potential.

In testimony whereof I afli-X my signature.

WALTER W. VVENHOLZ.

